Abstract

The quality of harvested rainwater used for toilet flushing in a private house in the south-west of France was assessed over a one-year period. Twenty-one physicochemical parameters were screened using standard analytical techniques. The microbiological quality of stored roof runoff was also investigated and total flora at 22°C and 36°C, total coliforms, Escherichia Coli, enteroccocci, Cryptospridium oocysts, Giardia cysts, Legionella species, Legionella pneumophila, Aeromonas, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were analysed. Chemical and microbiological parameters fluctuated during the course of the study, with the highest levels of microbiological contamination observed in roof runoffs collected during the summer. Overall, the collected rainwater had a relatively good physicochemical quality but variable, and, did not meet the requirements for drinking water and a microbiological contamination of the water was observed. The water balance of a 4-people standard family rainwater harvesting system was also calculated in this case study. The following parameters were calculated: rainfall, toilets flushing demand, mains water, rainwater used and water saving efficiency. The experimental water saving efficiency was calculated as 87 %. The collection of rainwater from roofs, its storage and subsequent use for toilet flushing can save 42 m3 of potable water per year for the studied system.